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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Political Science & Government (Income $48-$75k) in California

18 Ranked Colleges
137 Degrees Awarded
$26,300 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master's in California For Those Making $48-$75k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking - to help you make that decision.

Political Science & Government is the 21st most popular major in the country with 48,597 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, political science and government graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,977 and had an average of $22,822 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 7,986 political science and government graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,047 and $19,395 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 137 political science and government graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking looked at 18 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in political science and government. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great political science and government programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the political science and government program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k

The colleges and universities below are the best for california master’s degree political science students whose families make $48-$75k.

Top 18 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Political Science & Government (Income $48-$75k) in California

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Stanford is a fairly large school located in Stanford, California that handed out 11 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree political science students whose families make $48-$75k list, Stanford has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Stanford University

#2

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 25 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA also took the #2 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131.

Full University of California - Los Angeles Political Science & Government Report

#16 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Los Angeles. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Cal State LA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 10 masters’s political science degrees to qualified students.

Cal State LA also made our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #16. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Los Angeles are $17,723.

Read more about Political Science & Government at Cal State LA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k. University of California - Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 1 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also took the #0 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Berkeley Political Science & Government Report

#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - San Diego. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k. This large school is located in La Jolla, California, and it awarded 9 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSD not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - San Diego are $28,631, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at UCSD

#14 in overall quality

California State University - Fullerton landed the #6 spot on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s political science degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

Cal State Fullerton also made our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #14. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cal State Fullerton are $17,892.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Cal State Fullerton

#4 in overall quality

University of California - Irvine ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in Irvine, California, this large public school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified masters’s political science students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree political science students whose families make $48-$75k list, UC Irvine has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Irvine are $28,456, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Political Science & Government at UC Irvine

#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, California State University - Northridge did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Northridge, California, and it awarded 6 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree political science students whose families make $48-$75k list, CSUN has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at CSUN are $17,955, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Political Science & Government at California State University - Northridge

#9

University of California - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#5 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Barbara ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 6 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSB, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Barbara are $28,670, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of California - Santa Barbara Political Science & Government Report

#10

University of California - Riverside

Riverside, California
#8 in overall quality

University of California - Riverside came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of California - Riverside is a large public school situated in Riverside, California. It awarded 7 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree political science students whose families make $48-$75k list, UCR has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Riverside are $28,686, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UCR Political Science & Government Report

#10 in overall quality

California State University - Long Beach ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. California State University - Long Beach is a large school located in Long Beach, California that handed out 5 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CSULB, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Long Beach are $17,784.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at CSULB

University of California - Davis came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Davis, California, this large public school handed out 2 degrees to qualified masters’s political science students in 2019-2020.

UC Davis did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Davis are $28,700, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UC Davis Political Science & Government Report

#13

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Located in San Diego, California, this large public school awarded 12 degrees to qualified masters’s political science students in 2019-2020.

SDSU also took the #7 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full San Diego State University Political Science & Government Report

#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, California State University - Sacramento did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Sac State is a large school located in Sacramento, California that handed out 6 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

Sac State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Sacramento are $18,356, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at Sac State

#15

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, California
#11 in overall quality

San Francisco State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #15. San Francisco, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s political science degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

SFSU not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Francisco State University are $17,944, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Political Science & Government at San Francisco State University

#16

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#9 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Cruz ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. Santa Cruz, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s political science degrees to 6 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california master’s degree political science students whose families make $48-$75k list, UC Santa Cruz has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Political Science & Government at University of California - Santa Cruz

#17 in overall quality

University of California - Merced did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #17. This medium-sized school is located in Merced, California, and it awarded 5 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Merced, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC Merced are $43,854.

Read more about Political Science & Government at University of California - Merced

#15 in overall quality

California State University - Chico ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Political Science Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Chico, California, and it awarded 5 masters’s political science degrees in 2019-2020.

Chico State also took the #15 spot in our “Best Political Science & Government Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Chico are $18,802, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Political Science & Government at California State University - Chico

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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